Jar operable upon release of vacuum



Jan. 27, 1959 B. P. ARTERBURY 2,870,992

' JAR OPERABLE UPON RELEASE OF VACUUM Filed May 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Bryant P. Arterbury, Houston,

three and one-third percent Houston, Tex.

Application May 17, 1955, Serial No. 508,958 9 Claims. (Cl. 255-27) Tern, assignor of thirtyto Roy L. Arterbury,

This invention relates to a jar operableupon release of vacuum, such jar being hydraulically operated and.

United States atent G 2,870,992 Patented Jan. 27, 1 959 therein. When the jar and the fishing tool connected thereto havebeen lowered and the fishing tool has been designed for use in connection with a disconnecting operation, a sample of such operation being the use of such as a jar in oil wells to release become stuck in the well.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a jar of this class which is operable, first to create a vacuum in one chamber thereof, and then to release such vacuum as communication between the vacuum area and anopen chamber area is established, whereby the mandrel of the jar which has created the vacuum may move into jarring impact against a shoulder in the jar, andthereby tend to release any stuck or frozen object which is counected to the jar.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a jar of this class which may be lowered into the well on a wire line or which may be lowered into the well as a 1 part of a pipe string.

it is the further object of this invention to provide a jar of this class which may be operated as part of a pipe string and in a manner that fluid, as circulating fluid, may flow therethrough continuously whilethe jar is operated to create and release vacuum. h 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection withthe anncxed drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

an objectwhich mayhave Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention adapted to be lowered on a wire line into a well bore;

Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in which the mandrel of the jar is shown in a different operativeposition;

\ tacle for such air so that a vacuum may be later pulled more effectively; as will be hereinbelow described, the

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a varia- 2 tion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig.4 isa sectional elevation of a second ated to create and then to break vacuum; I

Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 4 in which the mandrel of the modification of the. invention, as adapted for operation 6 on a pipe j string inla manner to permit the continuous circulation oi fluid through the jar andtherebelow as the jar is oper connected to the object to be dislodged, the wire line 12 is further lowered so that the mandrel 11 moves downwardly with relation to the jar body 15. As the upper chamber 16 is open, as by providing therein perforations 21, the mandrel .11 may be lowered into the upper chamber 16 withoutdifficulty as the fluid therein is displacedoutwardly through these perforations 21.

The mandrel 11 terminates downwardly in a reduced diameter portion 22, and a ring 23 divides the upper chamber 16 fromthe lower chamber 17 and hasa bore 24 therein to slidably receive the mandrel portion 22. The end of the portion 22 is chamfered at 25, and the ring 23 has a top face 26 which is countersunk at the bore 24, and consequently as the mandrel is lowered, the chamfered surface 25 and countersunk surface 26 effect guided engagement of the mandrel portion 22 into the ring 23. An annular groove 27 is provided within the ring 23 about the bore 24 to receive therein an O-ring 28 to seal about the mandrel portion 22 as it slides in the bore 24. i

As the mandrel portion 22. is lowered into the lower chamber 17, fluid gaseous and/or liquid, must be dis placed from the lower chamber and-for this purpose the ring23 is bored, countersunk, counterbored, and threaded to provide an aperture 29 and a seat for a ball valve 30 held seated therein by a spring 31 which is retained by a bored plug 32 in the threaded which divides the jar body 16 and the lower chamber portion of the ring 23 15 into the upper chamber 17. Thus the fluid to be displaced lifts the ball 30 against the force of the spring will inherently have an amount of air entrapped therein, or insinuated thereinto after the jar has been lowered into the well bore. Consequently, in order to provide a recepmandrel 11 hasan axial bore 33 extending thereinto to provide an open space which may approximately even space filled by the mandrel portion, 22 when it has been asserted within the bore 24 and the excel the volume of chamber 17.

Thus, as the mandrel portion 22 descends into the wthe chamber 17 past the ball valve 30, while the re- Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line6-6 of Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. l, ajar10 includes a mandrel 11w connected to a wire line 12 by a suitable conventional connection member 14. The mandrel extends into a tubular body, 15 comprising anupper chamber 16f and a lower chamber 17. The upper chamber 16 has a top,

end closure 18 which provides an inncrhshoulder 18 against which bears an enlarged diameter 1 portion or flange 19 on the mannrel 11, and thus the body of the. jar 10 is suspended by the mandrel 11 as thejar is lowered into the well bore. i

Below. the jar 1Q an element 20, is connected which rnay be a conventional fi shingf toohwhichnis engaged with,

mainder, which is generally the far greater part, may pass from the liquid under compression into the mandrel bore 33. The provisionof a sizeable bore 33 should insure that the trapped air and/or gas escaping thereinto is not compressed in any degree, and preferably the volume of the bore 33 should be such that the air escaping thereinto fills a space greater than the space in the absence of such bore 33that such air would normally fill as an air and/or gas pocket inthe chamber 17 in cases where the pressure required to lift the, ball 30 against the spring 31isj excessive and slowly attained or not reached.

, Partly in reiteration and in further detail, chamber 17 may be filled by pouring the liquid in through the top of the jar body 15, as may be done before the mandrel 11 is assembled with the jar body, or after such assembly 17 withthe plug 32 outwardly such may be accomplished through the ports 21, a hose, tunnel, or other suitable conduit being employable in either case for this purpose. The chamber 17 may be filled to the'top with such liquid, or or fill the bore 24 thereabove.

Then when in assembled operation the mandrel end 22 is inserted to extend into the chamber 17, the liquid in the chamber,'under pressure, will compress the gas; and/ or air bubbles therein, and in the absence of suitable' escape space, the gas and/or air from such compressed bubbles must be compressed as an air pocket in the lower consequently with less effort, than in. the absence of such pace- Thus, after the mandrel 11 has first been lowered to fullest extent to seat upon the upper face 26 of the ring 23, and is then raised upwardly as by the exertion of an upward force upon the wire line at the top of the well, from practically the inception of such lifting an ever increasing vacuum or low pressure area will be created in the chamber 17 andbore 33.

Then as the mandrel portion 22 passes above the ring, seal 27 the vacuum may begin to break, and a positive; release of vacuum must surely occur as the chamfered end 259f the mandrel portion 22 is moved upwardly into the countersunk face area 26' of the ring 23.

Such release of vacuum results in the, stretch in the wire line 12 being relieved as well as the release of stretch in the jar body and elements connected therebelow. As a consequence of this release of stretch combined with the upward action of they force applied to the wire line 1Z'which may now act unimpeded, the flange 19 on the mandrel 11 is now brought into jarring impact with the shoulder 18 within the upper jar chamber 16. As a consequence of this jarring impact any stuck object or lodged structure connected below to the member 20 may be loosened or fully dislodged so that it may be retrieved from the well bore.

As shown in Fig. 3, a structure is shown in which a check valve structure is provided, not through the ring 23, but through the wall of the lower chamber 17 and at a lower level than the lowermost position of the mandrel portion 22. Thus the path of fiuid evacuation from the lower chamber 17 may be shortened in cases where sutiicient wall thickness of the lower chamber 17 is avail-. able for the installation of such a check valve structure.

It is obvious that as an optional feature. of construe- 'tion of this invention a pipe string extending from the top of the well may be connected to, and closed by the mandrel 11, and such, a pipe string can be employed, as well as the wire line operation described hereinabove for lowering the mandrel, and then for raisingthe mandrel to break the vacuum.

Referring in detail to Figs. 4'6; inclusive, a jar structure is shown which operates on thebreakage of vacuum principle and which has. the mandrel and essentially the body structure described hereinabove. In this modification an additional structure is. provided sov that fluid, as a drilling mud, may be circulated through the jar during the period it is employed to create and then to break vacuum. Also, the mandrel is so connected to it may-rise up into i a spaced distance therefrom. Such sleeve extends below the lower chamber 17 and at a spaced distance below the jar 10 it sealably engages the element at 36.

The mandrel 11 has a hollow upper end 37 and is connectable to the pipe string of the well thereabove, but not shown. Passages 38 are provided at spaced radial distances from the axial bore 33 and extend from the interior of the upper end 37 through the flange 19 to complete fiuid communication between the interior of the upper end 37 and the upper chamber .16. Ports 39 are provided in the element 20 above the sleeve seal 36, and thus fiuicl may be circulated, as by pumping down the pipe string from the top of the well, to flow the jar body that both must rotatetogether in the same direction. In this modification, as will. be hereinbelow described, corresponding reference numerals: are applied to elements corresponding to the elements. of Figs. 1-3.

In this modification the body 15 is, threaded at 34.

and a sleeve or shell 35 is, connected thereto to extend around the body 15 with-:the wall 42, of the shell 35 being through the upper end 37 of the mandrel, via the passages 38 into the upper chamber 16, and then out therefrom through the perforations 21 into the sleeve 35, and from thence via the ports 39 into the interior of the element 20 therebelow.

The advantages of such circulation of fluid is well known, as when the jar 10' may be installed in a drill string, or as when it may be desirable to wash over a stuck object to which the element 20 is engaged.

In order to conduct drilling with the jar 10' installed in a drill string, or in order to obtain other advantages of rotation when such jar is installed in a pipe or tubing string, the upper chamber 16 has internal splines 40 therein, as best shown in Fig. 6, while the mandrel 11 has grooves 41 therein, so that the mandrel 11 may slide within the upper chamber 16 while the pipe string connected mandrel thus rotates the jar 10' and the element 20- connected to the jar, as the mandrel is rotated with the pipe string to which its upper end is connected.

Obviously this modification of the invention shown in Figs. 4-6 operates in the same manner as that shown in Figs. 1-3 as regards the creation and release of vacuum and the jarring impact resulting from release, and obviously the variation of check valve installation shown in Fig. 3 may be employed in the wall of the lower chamber 17 in Figs. 4-6 rather than in the ring 23;

Broadly this invention considers a jar or pulling tool operable upon the release of a created vacuum, and lowered on a wire line or connected to a pipe string, and capable of permitting circulation therethrough, and adapted upon vacuum release to exert an impact on it stuck object. The invention is not limited to the'disclosure of the drawings but other structures are considered as well to fall within the broad spirit of the invention and within the broad scope of interpretation claimed and merited for the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A jar operable in a well bore pipe string and comprising a tubular body including therein an upper cham: ber providing opening means through the wall thereof and having a top closure therefor, said body also including a lower fixed volume chamber axially adjacent to said upper chamber and having a bottom closure therefor, a ring forming a wallin said body between said chambers extending transversely there-across and having a smaller inner diameter than said chambers, a

mandrel extendinglongitudinally in saidfbod'y' throughsaid top closure and said upper chamber and having a lower end of a diameter to be sealably insertablethrough the inner diameter of said ring to close said lower chamber and extendable into said closable chamber, and a wall of said'closable chamber being provided with a passage, check valve means in said passage for the escape of fluid from said closable chamber into said well bore as said fluid is displaced by said mandrel, said mandrel top closure.

2. A jar as claimed in claim 1' in which an open" space i is provided .insaid mandrel to: communicate witlr'said gas therefrom to minimize open chamber side of said ring and in which the mandrel portion therebelow is of reduced diameter to effect the sealable insertion into said ring and to provide the mandrel part extendable into said closable chamber.

4. A jar operable in a well bore pipe string and comprising a tubular body including therein an upper chamber providing opening means through the wall thereof and having a top closure therefor, said body also including a lower fixed volume chamber axially adjacent to said upper chamber and having a bottom closure therefor, a ring forming a wall in said body between said chambers extending transversely there-across and having a smaller inner diameter than said chambers, a mandrel extending longitudinally in said body through said top closure and said upper chamber and having a lower end of a diameter to be sealably insertable through the inner diameter of said ring to close said lower chamber and extendable into said closable chamber, said ringhaving a passage, check valve means in said passage in said ring to permit the escape of fluid from said closable chamber into said open chamber as said fluid is displaced by said mandrel, said mandrel creating vacuum in said closable chamber as it is withdrawntherefrom and said vacuum being released as said mandrel clears the open chamber side of said ring whereby said mandrel is brought into jarring impact with said top closure. 1

5. A jar operable in a well bore pipe string and comprising a tubular body including therein an upper chamber providing opening means through the wall thereof and having a top closure therefor, said body also including a lower fixed volume chamber axially adjacent to said upper chamber and having a bottom closure therefor, a ring forming a wall in said body between said chambers extending transversely there-across and having a smaller inner diameter than said chambers, a mandrel extending longitudinally in said body through said top closure and said upper chamber and having a lower end of a diameter to be sealably insertable through the inner diameter of said ring to close said lower chamber and extendable into said closable chamber, said ring having a passage, check valve means in said passage in the wall of said closable chamber to permit the escape of fluid therefrom to said well bore as said fluid is displaced by said mandrel, said mandrel creatingvacuum in said closable chamber as it is withdrawn therefrom and said vacuum being released as said mandrel clears the open chamber side of said ring whereby said mandrel is brought into jarring impact with said top closure.

. 6 6. A jar operable in a well bore pipe string and comprising a tubular body including therein an upper chamber providing opening means through the wall thereof and having a top closure therefor, said body also including a lower fixed volume chamber axially adjacent to said upper chamber and having a bottom closure therefor,

a ring forming a wall in said body between said chambers extending transversely there-across and having a smaller inner diameter than said chambers, a mandrel extending longitudinally in said body through said top closure and said upper chamber and having a lower end of a diameter to be sealably insertable through the inner diameter of said ring to close said lower chamber and extendable into said closable chamber, a by-pass passage providing means in said jar exclusive of said closable chamber whereby fluid may be circulated from one part of said string through said jar to the other part thereof, and said closable chamber having a passage through a wall thereof, a check valve in said passage to permit the escape of fluid from said closable chamber into said open chamber as said fluid is displaced by said mandrel, said mandrel creating vacuum in said closable chamber as it is withdrawn therefrom and said vacuum being released as said mandrel clears the open chamber side of said ring whereby said mandrel is brought into jarring impact with said top closure.

7. A jar as claimed in claim 6 wherein said by-pass passage providing means includes passage means in said mandrel to communicate said pipe string above said jar with said open chamber, a sleeve on said body to receive fluid from said open chamber, and passage means in said pipe string below said closable chamber to communicate with said sleeve.

8. A jar as claimed in claim 6 in which said mandrel and said body include means connecting them to rotate together while permitting relative axial movement there between. t

9. A jar as claimed in claim 6 in which an open space is provided in said mandrel to communicate with said closable chamber to receive gas therefrom to minimize compression, thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,700 Maxwell May 12, 1931 1,927,836 Kightlinger Sept. 26, 1933 2,180,223 Collett Nov. 14, 1939 2,315,905 Stafford Apr. 6, 1943 2,544,473 Smith Mar. 6, 1951 

